An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives,
1937-1964, 1968,
undated (bulk 1949-1956)

These records consist
of general, personal, campaign, and clipping files of Allan Shivers in his
capacities as Texas state senator, lieutenant governor, and governor of Texas;
most of the files are gubernatorial. The gubernatorial records consist of
correspondence files and general files including reports of Governor Shivers.
The records date from 1937 to 1964, 1968, undated (bulk 1949-1956). Shivers
served from July 11, 1949 to January 15, 1957. Texas governors work with all
state agencies, with the judiciary, and with local and federal governments.
Notable subjects in Governor Shivers' records include the Tidelands case,
segregation, drought, and Communism.

The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state,
elected by the citizens every four years. The duties and responsibilities of
the governor include serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military
forces; convening special sessions of the legislature for specific purposes;
delivering to the legislature at the beginning of each regular session a report
on the condition of the state, an accounting of all public money under the
governor's control, a recommended biennial budget, an estimate of the amounts
of money required to be raised by taxation, and any recommendations he deems
necessary; signing or vetoing bills passed by the legislature; and executing
the laws of the state. The governor can grant reprieves and commutations of
punishment and pardons, upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and
Paroles, and revoke conditional pardons. He appoints numerous state officials
(with the consent of the Senate), fills vacancies in state and district offices
(except vacancies in the legislature), calls special elections to fill
vacancies in the legislature, fills vacancies in the United States Senate until
an election can be held, and serves as ex officio member of several state
boards.

The office of governor was first established by the Constitution of
1845 and superseded the office of president of the Republic of Texas. The
position now exists under authority of Article IV, Section 1 of the
Constitution of 1876 and Texas Government Code, Chapter 401. To be elected
governor, a person must be at least thirty years old, a United States citizen,
and a resident of Texas for at least five years preceding the election. In
1972, the term of office was extended from two to four years, effective in
1975. Since 1856 the governor has had the use of the Governor's Mansion.

In 1949 the Office of the Governor had less than 30 full-time
equivalent employees. The office was not formally organized into divisions or
departments.

Allan Shivers Biographical Sketch

Allan Shivers was born on October 5, 1907, in Lufkin, Texas. Shivers
attended high school in Port Arthur and college at the University of Texas. He
practiced law in Port Arthur before winning election to the Texas Senate in
1934, at age 27 the youngest member ever to sit in that body. He entered the
army during World War II and served in North Africa, Italy, France, and
Germany. He was discharged as a major, with five battle stars and the Bronze
Star. In 1946 he was elected lieutenant governor and worked closely with
Beauford Jester on an ambitious modernization program. He became governor upon
Jester's death in 1949.

Shivers set the stage for the emergence of Texas as a powerful
modern state. He helped create the Legislative Council and Legislative Budget
Board to put the making of laws on a more professional footing. He was able to
pass tax increases to upgrade state services across the board.

The most important issue faced by Shivers was his defense of state
claims to the Tidelands, off-shore oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas
had held title to the submerged lands of the Gulf since the Republic of Texas
days, and had dedicated its revenues to the public school fund. After oil was
discovered offshore, federal officials tried to seize the Tidelands of Texas
and other oil-producing states. This action precipitated a crisis between state
and federal authority. In 1952, Shivers broke with the national Democratic
party over the issue and helped deliver the state's electoral votes to Dwight
Eisenhower, the first Republican to carry the state since Reconstruction.
Finally, the Tidelands were returned to the states through federal legislation.

After leaving office in January 1957, Shivers managed business
enterprises in the Rio Grande Valley and served as an executive for a number of
banks. He served on and chaired the University of Texas Board of Regents in the
1970s. He died January 14, 1985.

These records consist of general, personal, campaign, and clipping
files of Allan Shivers in his capacities as Texas state senator, lieutenant
governor, and governor of Texas; most of the files are gubernatorial. The
gubernatorial records consist of correspondence files and general files
including reports of Governor Shivers. Shivers served from July 11, 1949 when
he succeeded to the office upon the death of Governor Beauford Jester, to
January 15, 1957 when he completed his third elected term. The records date
from 1937 to 1964, 1968, undated (bulk 1949-1956). Texas governors work with
all state agencies, with the judiciary, and with local and federal governments.
Governors make appointments to governing boards and fill some judicial and
legislative vacancies. Correspondents include the citizens of Texas, local,
state and federal officials, and private organizations as well. Issuing
proclamations, deciding on clemency petitions, and reviewing extradition orders
are other facets of governors' duties documented in governors' records. Notable
subjects in Governor Shivers' records include the Tidelands case, segregation,
drought, and Communism.

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Rough, non-exclusive
groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO project's file
size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the finding aids for
subjects of interest. Inconsistent titles and dates are evident.
Misidentifications and misfilings are possible.

This finding aid provides an overview for the records of Allan Shivers
as well as more detailed descriptions for 12 groups of records. Each of the
other five groups has its own finding aid.

Appointment files,
1951-1957,
17 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest. See especially General files (part 1) and (part
2), Personal and political files,
Extradition records, and Miscellaneous.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Clipping files,
1946-1950, 1952-1953, undated, 10 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

[Note: These items were transferred
from Box 4-9/47 to Oversize Box 4-9/250 when the Shivers records were
inventoried. The boxes were renumbered sometime after the finding aid was
originally prepared. The box number to the left is correct.]

Committees and commissions records,
1953-1956,
6 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Extradition records,
1948-1956,
6 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Invitations declined,
1949-1955,
21 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Legislative files,
1951-1956,
19 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Miscellaneous,
1950-1957,
undated, 62 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest. See especially, Invitations declined.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Senate files,
1937-1950,
undated, 6 cubic ft.

Scope and Contents of the Records

These records have not been processed. The folder inventory is an
almost exact transcription (some typographical errors were corrected) of an
earlier one based on existing box and folder titles. Inconsistent titles and
dates are evident. Misidentifications and misfilings are possible. Rough,
non-exclusive groupings by title and date were formed to comply with the TARO
project's file size restrictions. Researchers are advised to review all the
finding aids for subjects of interest.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received.

Related material

The following materials are offered as
possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by
the records. The listing is not exhaustive.